Grace Cooper

“A ball's just the thing for Christmas, is it not? ” by Grace Cooper

Submitted to Contest #73

Mr. Hemming stood with Mr. Conway at the balustrade of the crowded entryway, looking down upon the large ballroom of the Risewell House. Mr. Hemming had to raise his voice by several degrees, although for want of space, he was already closer in proximity to Mr. Conway than he would have preferred.  “I told you not to have taken that last brandy. We’re late.” “Hemming you know perfectly well it’s shockingly rude to refuse anything on Christmas.”  “I’ve never known you to refuse a drink, Christmas or not. Shall we?”  Mr. Conway ...

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“God, I Used to Have a Normal Life” by Grace Cooper

I glanced at him the way one glances at all passerbys, with a fleeting, hopeful interest that will be forgotten by the end of the block. But in a second, his face comes to me, hovering, impossibly, above the coat collar of a strange man, no, not strange, it’s him. In a moment, the sounds of the street come rushing back, filling up all the space for thoughts. “Owen -” He gives me a tight-lipped, nervous smile. “Camila.” My knees buckle under me. He grabs me, solid, alive, holding my weight. He smells of snow, and underneath, the same co...

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“The Making of Sourdough Bread” by Grace Cooper

Submitted to Contest #51

“It’s my mom.” I peer over Ezra’s shoulder to study the photograph he’s holding. “Before her bread-making days.”  He tilts the old, faded photo towards the light. “That’s wild. She looks just like you.”  “Yeah. I get that a lot.” I brush a few dead spiders off the top of the wilted cardboard and drag the box out to the center of the attic. “Come on babe, there’s a few more boxes here.” I heave it towards the door with a grunt. “Three generations of Romeros in one house and I don’t think anyone’s ever thrown anything away.”  ...

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“Vision in Vermilion” by Grace Cooper

Submitted to Contest #50

I had my earbuds in, so I didn’t hear her come up behind so much as feel her breathing down the back of my neck. She swipes my earbuds out of my ears. I disentangle the cord from my hair. “God, Valeria, what?”  Swinging herself down, she flops onto the couch. “Watching that trash vampire show again?” She props her chin in her hand, taps bright red nails against her cheek. “If you’re going to binge watch something you could at least watch something good.”  I sigh and close my laptop. “Just because you’re a weirdo who doesn’t appre...

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“The Snow and a Walk to Safeway” by Grace Cooper

Submitted to Contest #23

Snow on New Year’s Eve. Of course, thought Max. Snow on the wet concrete of Seattle, the gray city he had landed in, ducking out from under the snow clouds of the Midwest. The water leaked from the sky in this city, like they were under some giant leaky faucet no one had ever thought to turn off.  He pulled his blinds shut, the plastic pieces swaying. He was sick of the view, of the city though it was.The last thing he wanted was to see it all covered lightly in snow. He sank back on the couch, sliding down the leather slightly, stretch...

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“Zelda” by Grace Cooper

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #22

Cassie could feel her legs sticking to the seat’s plasticy cover. She drummed her fingers against the keyboard and exhaled, “hmmmm”. Stupid research papers. Stupid her for choosing something on a whim. Stupid her for waiting until the last minute.  She stretched back against her chair and yawned. Books and papers were scattered around the glowing white screen of her laptop, spilling off of her desk onto her bed and the floor. She unstuck her legs one at a time from the bottom of the chair and got up. She wandered over to her bed and lif...

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